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| To be honest, I just knew I had to get this team of 10 people to Mexico and I didn't think much more into just being able to make it happen. I trusted the Lord to do the planning and I knew He could take it from there. He did exactly that and I was amazed at how he multiplied the impact in the lives of the students that went. My desire was for this trip to be a launching point for the students to develop an urgent heart to share the gospel with others around them and to bust into the 10/40 window in recognizing that people all over the world are hungry and waiting to hear, they just need someone to step into their country and introduce them to Him.
It worked as that launching point as well. One girl just left my house after an emotional day of sorting out all she saw and what God taught her and now she's considering a summer project. This quiet little girl that I called in December to attend College Crew is now eternally impacted and committed to the great commission. Just seeing the impact on her life made it 100 percent worth it for me for every ounce of sweat, stress, lack of sleep and work in making the trip happen. What a mighty God we serve. | | |
| Today brought an interesting discussion with my sisters which lead me to some reading in Ecclesiastes tonight. As I read, I got pretty convicted about the meaningless tasks that I let consume my time and thought process. Frequent subjects to fill my thoughts include work, physical fitness or appearance, financial decisions, the next improvements needing done on my house and how I'll afford it in both time and money, worry about relationships or lack thereof, what next adventure I can go on and so on. Ecc. 11:9 says, "be happy while you are young, let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth..vs. 10-banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body for youth and vigor are meaningless.
Mt.6:19-of course, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth & rust do not destroy...
All of the priorities or thoughts in my head aren't necessarily bad thoughts, they are all good and wise matters, Ecc.9:10 said whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, also in scripture, do all things as unto the Lord. We are even to treat our earthly bodies as temples and honor them... I see it easy to fall into recognizing these scriptures and the value of them, and confusing the relevance they should have in our life with God's purposes for us. More importantly is to pray without ceasing..Love God, then love your neighbor more than yourself. Seek spiritual gifts -wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation...Yet when these gifts cease...Love never fails.
I always loved Roger Hershey's messages on living with an eternal perspective and I'm continuously relearning that and attempting to live it out in my life. So...in the Christmas spirit...I'm attempting to forget about day to day short term anxieties and will store up treasures in heaven through loving the Savior of the world with reckless obedience. | | |
| The end of the year is such a time to reflect and think about the past and plan for the future...and I'm a planner so I do that...strategically. As I'm thinking about what's happened in the past year, I'm amazed. I'm amazed at the powerful God I serve who has blessed me beyond belief and has actually done something with the worthless person that I am and with the useless offerings I provide. The first thing that comes to mind for me next year is that I want to slooow down. I'm too worried about missing out on doing something for God or for this community (work) that I'm missing out on being with Him. I really want to fall in Love with God all over again in '07. Sit at his feet and spend time with Him instead of worrying about my neighbors thinking that my yard is a mess.
Part of enjoying God more is enjoying the simple things with His people. I want to hang out with my roommates more, get into their lives more instead of share quick updates about our day... I want to get excited about the purposes of God. Leading the college kids to Puerto Vallarta is a step of obedience to me, and a little step of sacrifice. At first, I really wanted to get them to go into the 10-40 window, but this is the first step. My attitude isn't even right about it yet. Thinking of the planning and logistics and organizing....blah, but lives are going to be changed. It's the college students and myself that will change more than the people we go to serve.
2006 was a great year, a new huge job transition, my first house, and big steps with students and the ministry at LCSC...what a mighty God we serve. I learned a lot about my Provider this year..."I don't know if you know this, but He's a big deal."
Fumbling at his majesty,
Ang | | |
| Grrr... my laptop frustrates me. When I finally post something...it gets deleted right before I am done with it!
Anyway, life has been fast paced since my last post. Sept. 8 was the kickoff to the fundraising campaign where I'm in charge of pulling people and resources together to raise $700,000 to support 17 non-profit agencies here in the valley plus some. It's been a lot of work and I'm really nervous about how it's going to turn out. I do understand that my identity is not in the results...but a lot of people are depending on this campaign. That is scary to me. I try not to focus on that.
At the same time, this time of year has obviously been the most crucial time for college ministry. Which I feel so inadequate in! Yes, God will equip me and every student for His will at LCSC....yet I like to be in control-and I want help too!! I'm thankful for the students who have really stepped up in new ways to lead small groups and make our weekly "connection" so excellent! Also the students who make the phone calls so everyone feels included, that's awesome! I just know there are so many needs unmet and so many students who could really use some extra support-yet I see those needs going unmet...and it breaks my heart!
Other than headaches of being a new home owner, I'm trying to learn the balance of discovering friendships outside of just hanging out with college students. I realize I have to do that in order to keep my sanity and be passionate for the students...
Some recent praises: My staff made me feel LOVED for boss's day. They brought in a cake for me, a JCPenney gift card and a sweet card -yay for words of affirmation. The cake didn't help with my new fitness plan-bummer! Plus, my good buddy from back home, Scott is coming to visit in early December.
Big prayers: Trusting my heart only to the Lord, getting all of strength and support from Him alone & waiting while he refines me and also sends more laborers for the mission field that is LCSC. Send them LORD! | | |
| I think I may be trying to pack too much into an already crammed day by writing anything, but I just had to stop and recognize that our God is a God of provision and favor for His children! Not only is my job an excellent combination of the passions, gifts, and abilities God has blessed me with, but I am humbled by the opportunities I get to often make people's day or help someone really impact someone else. I just delivered some rodeo tickets to this sweet lady and her kids who couldn't afford to go. She was on my mind and I knew her kids would really enjoy it so I made a few phone calls and boom-some kind, thoughtful, compassionate guy gives up his four reserved passes for this woman and her three boys to go. It was unbelievable to hear the kids squeal through the phone as I told their mom...all for a silly rodeo! My parents took me to rodeos all the time and I thought we were living the simple life! Wow, what a might God we serve!
Okay, a little more work to finish up today! | | |
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